Rufus Edmond Abernathy was born on 19 December 1869, in Cherokee, Swain, North Carolina, United States, his father was, Rev. Rufus Pinkney Abernathy, 36 and his mother was, Mary 'Polly' Barnett Deweese, 33.
He married Mary Cordelia Christopher or Mary L. Christopher in 1893. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Benton Township, Lake, Illinois, United States in 1910 and Peace River, Alberta, Canada in 1926. He died on 16 May 1946, in Barrhead, Alberta, Canada, at the age of 76, and was buried in Barrhead, Alberta, Canada.

He married Beatrice May Felton Saunders on June 4, 1908 in Zion, Illinois, USA

Edmond had the following children with his first wife, Mary L. Christopher:
1. Lulu Ethel Abernathy, b. 17 Aug 1894, Cherokee County, North Carolina d. Apr 1907 (Age 12 years)
2. Robert Bascom Abernathy, b. 13 Aug 1896, Cherokee County, North Carolina d. 23 Jan 1981, Granite Falls, Snohomish County, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)
3. Benjamin Leslie Abernathy, b. 19 Aug 1898, Cherokee County, North Carolina d. 29 Mar 1993, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 94 years)
4. Pinckney B Abernathy, b. 08 Jun 1900, Cherokee County, North Carolina d. 09 Jan 1961, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Age 60 years)
5. Bessie Lee Abernathy, b. 08 Jul 1902, Lake County, Illinois d. 12 Dec 2003 (Age 101 years)
6. May Wilberta Abernathy, b. Abt 1903, Wisconsin d. 1998
7. Mary Ester Abernathy, b. 04 Feb 1907, Lake County, Illinois d. 28 May 1987 (Age 80 years)

His wife, Beatrice had one son, Joseph Saunders, born in 1903 with her first husband, Joseph Saunders.

Children of Beatrice & Edmond:
Daughter: Naomi Beatrice Ella Abernathy Pearson, born in approx. 1909 - 1998
Son: Victor Amos Gervais Abernathy, 1912 - 1999
Son: Lionel David Abernathy, 1914 - 1982
Son: Jack Percy Abernathy, 1919 - 1984

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L7XG-J8F